Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: mrs vulture on February 28, 2011, 07:35:05 AM
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Hello, I found this on the car boot yesterday, the seller said it was a 1950's art deco letter rack!!!! I some how don't think so. Its 8 inches long (20 cms) and 2 inches tall (5 cms) 3 and a half inches wide (9cms). It is very solid and heavy. with a sort of woodgrained effect. None of us can guess what it is, any ideas anyone. I only bought it because we couldn't work out what it is and it was cheap. Thanks Cheryl
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Hi Cheryl,
Sellers these days will always tell you it's Art Deco, just because it sells better that way. And it's often hard to proove that it's NOT Art Deco :)
I'm not sure what this thing was made for, but it could very well be something like a base frame, a pedestal to hold either a glass plate or a wooden board in the middle slot. Is the groove something like 5-6 milimeters (0.20-0.25 inch) in width? I could imagine a small tiffany or leaded glass window fitting in nicely.
regards
\bablo
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I think it's a very basic frame for holding photos. I used to have something like it in wood. Two sheets of glass with two photo's back to back between them are slipped in the slot and you have a reversible photo frame.
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Quite big for a photo frame, how about a pavement light?
John
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Haha :24: Teach me to read the measurements before I reply! :pb:
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It could be Leni, 8 inches is/was a standard photographic paper size in this country (I think), either 5x8 or 10x8.
John
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always frisk the delegates after the conference! :wsh:
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The groove is 1cm across the bottom and 1.5cm deep. I do know what you mean by the photo frames with the two sheets of glass holding the photos, we have some wooden 1930,s ones in the living room. They have sides to hold the photo in. Cheryl.
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sorry to seem thick, but I don't see that anywhere a comment about what material this is - is it metal (might it be zinc) - also it does seem to have possibly the remains of a residue on the surface. Would agree tho that a picture frame is a possible candidate - they were made commonly with a base like this, although in wood, usually. How about a 'stand' for some sort of advertising material. :)
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HI, Its made of glass!!!! ;D Just one solid lump, no metal , no wood, just glass. A few air bubbles in it and some straw marks. Cheryl
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well now, who needs some new specs. :pb:
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Could it be a menu card holder? I have some glass knife rests that are moulded to look like wood with a little squirrel on the end......it would go very well with your 'thingy'.
Or, could it be for putting a reserved card in on a restaurant table, or a Directors/delegates name plaque holder?
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Rosie, I think your suggestion of a name plaque holder is what Ivo was hinting at too. :)
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Yes Anne, I think you are right, I just didn't cotton on, but it is late....I am waiting to 'snipe' an American listing!! ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Crumbs, you must be keen to stay up this late for it. Good luck! :)
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Thank you Anne, it finishes at 2am!! I'll let you know the outcome!
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Thank you all for your comments, I have stood a photo in it and it does stand up ok. Probably as suggested for a table or advert as theres nothing to hold it in so it sits very loosely in the slot. Cheryl
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It's still rather bigger than it would need to be.....
John
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I have just shown this to John and said 'what is it?', and he wants to know if the wood textured effect is on the base as well?? (He is an engineer, so thinks laterally!!)
(It went too high Anne, BTW!!)
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Hi, it looks like it was cast upside down, as the bottom is just smooth. Is it possible to use wood as a mold for glass to get the pattern from the grain? or would it be too hot and burn? Cheryl
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Hi Cheryl :hi:
I believe that Leedam used wooden molds for their satinised glass ducks, and as they wore through with use, were replaced. This is what I have been told, it it would be good to have this verified by a Leerdam collector who is familiar with their techniques.
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To my knowledge, wooden moulds only get used once - they tend to catch fire.
But I suppose it would depend how wet the wood is - after all, the paddles used for shaping the gather are fruit wood......
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I meant Leerdam, not Leedam, sorry :pb:
I understand the molds were kept soaked in water between uses, but this is only what I have been told.....I really must do more research into glass making methods...... :wsh:
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Turning moulds are made from beech wood and kept under water and are used many times over - but they are not suitable for countoured pieces like figurines. In a turning mould the contact between the wet wood and the hot glass creates a vapour layer which stops the wood from burning. Press glass moulds are made from cast iron. Wooden moulds can also be used dry a limited number of times; in that case the wood burns and the wood grain gets imparted on the piece. Pioneered by Wirkkala, this is an expensive technique and quite rare.
Any mould in a complicated shape needs to be made hinged, in 2, 3 or 4 parts so as to allow the freeing of the workpiece - so cast iron is the choice.